The second impact on top of the already painful lump made Merida’s vision go black.
Dawkins twisted first one of Merida’s arms and then the other behind her and fastened them together. He said into Merida’s ear, “If you had attended my classes, you would have never made such a mistake. I always taught my girls that a chain on the door will only slow a determined intruder, not stop her. Diagonal pliers, my dear. One good strong snip and I was in.”
Not Dawkins Cipre’s voice.
Elsa Cipre.
Elsa Cipre rolled Merida over.
Elsa Cipre’s face swam before Merida’s unsteady vision.
Clutching Merida’s jaw with her long fingers, Elsa turned Merida’s head back and forth. “Tsk. Look what you’ve done,” she said. “Now the side of your face will be swollen, it’ll be harder for me to cut the skin around your ear and the results will not be nearly as appealing. If Nauplius Brassard still lived, he would be most unhappy.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Victim: male, approximately forty, of African descent, no ID, shot and stabbed.
With a sigh, Kateri finished the paperwork for that night’s murder, then headed in to meet with Bergen, Garik Jacobsen and Mike Sun. The consensus: some of the violence in Virtue Falls was related; some, like tonight, completely puzzling; some gruesome and disturbing; and they all needed a good night’s sleep. Mike and Garik headed back to the morgue. Bergen and Kateri played rock/paper/scissors to decide who would stay through the night … and as they did, Kateri got a call from the hospital, from Peggy. Rainbow was restless and wanted to see her.
With a good-humored, “Cheater,” Bergen shoved her toward the door.
Kateri hitched a ride with Officer Bill Chippen, took a nap on the way, got out and waved her thanks.
The hospital was steeped in that hushed, wee-hours-of-the-morning quiet. On her way to Rainbow’s room, Kateri stopped at the nurses’ station.
With her normal brisk efficiency, Peggy informed her, “Rainbow is on fluids and doing well. On the other hand, your sister visited, and ever since Rainbow has been agitated and insistent that she see you.”
“My sister visited? Again?” Kateri shook her finger at Peggy. “I suspect there’s going to be another murder in Virtue Falls, and I suspect I’m going to be the perp.”
“Family. Gotta love ’em.” A call button went off, and Peggy stood and whisked away.
Kateri entered Rainbow’s hospital room to find her friend awake, irritated and in pain. She asked the usual inane question, “How are you feeling?”
Rainbow glared. “Did you get the box from Margaret?”
“I did. I stashed it in the trunk of my car.”
“Did you open it?”
“Not yet, but—”
“I don’t care why not. Open it. Find out why that aggravating woman wants it so badly.”
“Lilith?”
“Your sister. After she visited, I dreamed about her. She was pointing a gun at you, demanding the box. Then I tried to take off my sweater and it choked me and the horse stomped on my foot…”
Kateri took Rainbow’s hand and petted it. “Have you had your pain medication recently?”
Rainbow looked at the IV going into her arm. “I think about a half hour ago.”
“That’s good.” Kateri settled into the chair beside the bed. “I’ll give Lilith the box.”
“No! Look inside.” Rainbow closed her eyes. “Look … inside. Promise.”
“I will look inside.” Between Margaret and Rainbow, Kateri would never hear the end of it if she didn’t.
She felt as if she’d been asleep for five minutes when Moen arrived, grabbed her shoulder and shook her. “Sheriff, come on!” The boy did not know how to keep his voice down.
Kateri lifted her head, blinked hard. “Shh. She’s asleep.”
“I know, she’s in a coma and she’s going to die and I’m sorry, but—”
“No. Haven’t you heard?” Kateri beamed. “She’s asleep. Really asleep. She’s going to recover.”
“Wow.” Moen stared at Rainbow. “She’s a tough old broad.”
Rainbow’s middle finger shot up.
Kateri chuckled.
“What did I say?” Moen asked, honestly bewildered.
“She is neither old nor a broad.”
He blushed as only redheaded Moen could blush. “I didn’t mean … okay. I apologize, Rainbow.”
Rainbow gave a little wave.
“Good night, Rainbow. Sleep well, my friend.” Kateri herded Moen out the door.
“Sheriff,” he said earnestly, “this politically correct stuff is hard.”
“I know. But cop or not, you’re going to have to get it figured out. It’s pretty simple. Think before you speak. Always.” She followed him toward the exit. “Nothing more was happening when I left City Hall. What happened now?” Please, God, not another murder.
“Mike Sun used the … the skin from the finger I found to identify the dead maid from the B and B.”
“That was good work, Moen.”
“Thank you, Sheriff.” He held the outer door for her. “I’m still not staying on the force.”
“I know, Moen. For the record, I think you’re doing the right thing.”
“Really?” He stood still in the brightly lit parking lot. “Cool.”
Kateri kept walking. “What do we know about the ID?”
He hurried after her. “Garik Jacobsen got the goods on her. I’m supposed to take you to the morgue, because she’s not at all who she said she was. She’s wanted by Interpol, the FBI, the CIA. A few terror organizations.”
Now Kateri stood still. “For what?”
“Her real name is Ashley Kocsis. She’s an assassin.”
That was the last answer Kateri expected. She hurried after him toward the patrol car. “What is an assassin doing working as a maid at a Virtue Falls B and B?”
“She was sent to assassinate someone.” Trust Moen to break the facts down to the basics.
They climbed in.
“Okay. Who?” Kateri answered her own question. “Merida Falcon.” She pulled out her phone and dialed.
“No. Benedict Howard.” Moen started the engine and took off like a rocket.
She knew he was going to miss driving for her. “I don’t think so,” she said. “The people who have been attacked have all been female. It’s practice. Or maybe someone who really likes killing and hasn’t had the opportunity to get to his victim.”
Merida didn’t answer.
Kateri hung up.
“Benedict Howard is rich,” Moen said. “It’s always money.”
“Not always. Greed. Revenge. Love. Those are the big three. In this case, Merida does have money—she was married to a very wealthy man and her stepchildren hate her.” Kateri texted Merida. “So maybe revenge. The question is—who killed the assassin?”
Moen answered almost before she finished asking. “Another assassin. The one who wants to get paid.” His pale cheeks got that mottled red coloring that meant he was excited. “Call her.”
Kateri hit redial. “She isn’t answering.”
“Does she answer? She can’t speak.”
“She can sign and she can text. And yes, I already texted her, told her I was afraid for her life and to get back to me right away. She hasn’t.”
“That’s not good.”